Start here.
Check whether the highlight is missing from the original device, another device, or an export. Preserve any surviving copy. These are different failures and should not trigger the same reset or reimport.
Locate the last good copy
Open the original book and inspect its notes list. If the highlight still exists there, export or record it before changing files or accounts. Save the book’s title, edition, and a chapter locator with the note.
Check whether the book changed
An updated or re-converted file may have become a new library record. Compare the edition and import history. Notes can remain associated with the earlier copy even when the covers look identical.
Verify direction and completeness
Some workflows move annotations one way, or export text without restoring inline marks elsewhere. Check the expected output. A readable notes file is a successful export even if another reader cannot attach its locations automatically.
The details, at a glance.
| Consider | What to look for |
|---|---|
| On-device loss | Preserve backups; avoid overwriting state |
| Cross-device absence | Verify accounts and supported sync |
| After replacement | Compare old and new file identity |
| Export mismatch | Check supported fields and direction |
A few things worth asking.
Can a book-file backup contain every note?
Not always. Reading apps often keep notes separately.
Can this page recover deleted annotations?
No. It provides a diagnostic path and preservation steps; recovery depends on surviving data and the reader’s supported options.
Go to the source
Documentation consulted for the routes and terminology on this page. Product behavior can change; verify your exact setup.
Kobo: syncing an eReader and Kobo Books appWritten by Binge Reader. Our comparisons explain documented workflows and practical tradeoffs; they are not independent product benchmarks.